Shifting rail for vehicle-seats



(No Model. H. G. SWAN. SHIP'I'ING -RAIL FOR VEHICLE SEATS.

Patented Aug .22, 1 89B;

GHQ M0139 witwgoaa NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY O. SWAN, OF OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN.

SHIFTING RAIL FOR VEHICLE-SEATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 503,881, dated August 22, 1893. Application filed December 29, 1892. Serial No. 456,679. (No model.)

To wZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY C. SWAN, of Oshkosh, in the county of Winnebago and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shifting Rails for Vehicle- Seats, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Heretofore, no efficient means have been known enabling shifting rails for buggy-seats to be made of malleable cast-iron in an economical and satisfactory way, and the manufacture of them from wrought iron has been a somewhat tedious and expensive operation. The object of my invention is to overcome the difficulties heretoforeincident to the manufacture of these articles, and to provide means by which with very little cost I can produce a shifting-rail as light, durable and neat as the rails now ordinarily used, and one which can be madeof malleable cast-iron.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view, showing the corner of a shiftingrail,that portion of the rail of which the prop forms a part, and showing the joint or splice where the two sections of the rail are connected. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts of Fig. 1, showing the parts detached, and illustrating the manner of their connection. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Like symbolsof reference indicate like parts in each of the views.

In the drawings, 2 represents the back-rail or bar, which is set in position parallel with the back of the seat.

3 is one of the side-rails which extends in a direction parallel with the end of the seat, and 4 is the horizontally-proj ectin g prop. In Fig. l, I show these parts connected together. Their manner of attachment to the buggyseat does not need detailed description, since they may be applied thereto in any convenient manner.

The parts above described are connected with each other as follows:-The prop-bar 4. projects integrally from a flange 5 at the end of the back-rail 2, and near its juncture with said flange is made tapering or of wedge- .shape, as shown at 6. The side-rail 3 has at its rear end a flange 7, which is the counterpart of the flange 5,but which has ahole and, preferably, a projecting strengthening socket or cone 8, adapted to fit over the prop 4 and made internally of tapering form so as to be the counterpart of the tapering portion 6 of the prop.

In fitting the parts together, the flange 7 and socket 8 of the side-rail are placed around the prop and are forced against the back-rail so that the flanges 5 and 7 shall meet. The tapering shape of the interfitting parts 6, 7 and 8 causes the two rails, when forced together, to be bound as rigidly and firmly as though they were integral. They arealso held together by additional means, consisting preferably of a lip 9 on the socket 8 adapted to be forced into a recess 10 on the prop 4.

i The rails may be constructed of oval iron in the usual manner, and the prop may be made square and countersunk.

Although I deem it desirable to bevel the meeting faces of the parts 5 and 7, that is not essentially necessary to the invention as defined in the broader claim.

Modifications in the form, construction and relative arrangement of the parts of the device, within the scope of my invention as herein defined, may be made by those skilled in the art, and although the forms which I have described are specifically claimed, those claims in which no mention is made of specific forms are unlimited thereto.

As will be seen by referring to the drawings, the appearance of the rail is not impaired by my improvement, for it is common to use a prop-block resembling very much in appearance and having about the same diameter as the circle shown in Fig. 3. By my invention I am enabled to make a rail in three parts, and can therefore manufacture it more cheaply and more rapidly than heretofore. I am able also to use cast malleable iron, and to produce thereof a rail having the appearance of a wrought rail, and showing no unsightly splices or bunches, which have been so objectionable in the cast rails attempted to be produced heretofore.

I clain1- 1. The combination of a back-rail having an end projection, and a side-rail having a lateral hole fitted around said projection, said parts having meeting flanges; and theiinterfitting portions being of tapering or wedge shape substantially as described.

2. The combination of a back-rail having an end-projecting prop,,a side-rail having a socket fitted over the prop, and a projection on the socket adapted to enter a recess in the prop; substantially as described.

3. The combination of a back-rail having an end projection, and a side-rail'having a lateral hole fitted around said projection, said parts having meeting flanges with beveled faces; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 15 HENRY C. SWAN.

my hand.

Witnesses:

THOMAS E. BECKWITH, EMIL W. J AITE. 

